Scallops With Pink Grapefruit Beurre Blanc

Pat the sea scallops dry and cut them into 1/2-inch-thick slices. In a bowl, toss together the scallops, the flour, and salt and pepper to taste.

In a skillet large enough to hold the scallops in one layer, heat the oil over moderately high heat until it is hot but not smoking and in it saute the scallops, stirring, for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes, or until they are just firm and lightly golden. Transfer the scallops to a plate.

Add the wine to the skillet, deglaze the skillet, scraping up the brown bits, and stir in the clam juice, the shallot, the grapefruit juice, the zest, and the sugar. Boil the liquid until it is reduced to about 1/3 cup and strain the mixture through a fine sieve set over a saucepan.

Set the pan over low heat and whisk in the butter, a bit at a time, lifting the pan from the heat occasionally to cool the mixture and adding each new bit of butter before the previous one has melted completely (The sauce should not get hot enough to liquefy. It should be the consistency of thin hollandaise).

Add the scallion and the scallops with any juices that have accumulated on the plate and heat the mixture until the scallops are heated through.

Divide the mixture between individual dinner plates and garnish each plate with some of the grapefruit sections.